20 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



January H'k 191i?. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



ST. viS( ENT. The Agricultural Superintendent, Mr. 

 W. X. Sands, in his notes for tlie nionlli of December 1917, 

 describes reaping operations in connexion with nianurial 

 experiment plots in the Kxperiment Staii'n, and reports 

 increased yields and larger size of the rhizomes from the 

 mulched arrowroot plot. Work in the Botmic Gardens 

 was of a routine nature. Phint distribution included 3 

 coco-nut plants, und 2-5 decorative, liegarding staple crops 

 the picking of cotton was continued, and there was little 

 change in the crop outlook to report. The condition of other 

 crops was normal: the cane crop was, however, poor in 

 places. Mention is made of estates visited in connexion with 

 pests and diseases by the Entomologist and Mycologist of 

 the Imperial Department of Agriculture Both these 

 officers left for Barbados on December 9. The weather 

 during the month was fairly dry: the rainfall recorded both at 

 the Botanic Station and Experiment Station was 4"6G inches. 



Attached to this report is one from the Foreman of the 

 Experiment Station, on the condition of crops on the Land 

 Settlement Estates at Belair and Clare-Valley Questelles, 

 during December 1917. At Belair comparatively little cotton 

 is grown, and the cultivation, with three or four exception?. 

 was very poor. This is attributed to poor soil, and heavy 

 intercropping with sweet potatoes and cassava. The interest 

 of the holders at Belair is chiefly centred tn sugar-cine 

 cultivation. This crop, however, was a failure this seasor, 

 owing to the ravages of pests and disease, the reduction 

 in some eases from last years yield being 90 per cent. The 

 variety generally grown is the I'.ourbon, which is very 

 susceptible to attack by almost any pest or disease. The 

 remedies suggested are, (\) to plant risistant varieties in the 

 place of the I'.ourbon, (2) the cutting out and destruction 

 of dead hearts in order to kill as many grul's as possible, (.3) 

 not to plant Indian corn along with the canes, as this plant 

 is also attacked by the pests, and (4) cultivating and 

 manuring the canes in the best possible manner. 



At Clare Valley t^uestelies cotton is the chief crop grown, 

 and the holdings situated on the side of the hills which were 

 not thickly intercropped by ground jirovisions, yielded good 

 crops of cotton. On the other hand, the holdings situated 

 in the valley gave poor yields from the following causes: 

 (1) boll dropping, due to infestation of green bugs living in 

 large numbers on black-eye peas sown throu£;hout the hold 

 ings; (■-') intense intercropping, and overhead shade by 

 bananas and plantains; (.'I) mildew, causing boll dropping in 

 Eome few cultivations badly situated with respect to not 

 receiving direct sunlight. Cacao plants on some holdings 

 were badly attacked by thrii)s, firound provisions, especially 

 cassava and yinis, are extensively grown. 



DOMINICA. The Curator, Mr. Joseph Jones, in his notes 

 for the month of December 1917, states that 10 bags of cicao 

 each of a grcss weight of JlO Dt)., also 1 bag of nutmegs 

 and 1 bag of kola nuts were shipped to London from the 

 cacao experiment station. In the liotanic Gardens work of 

 a routine nature was |)erformed. I'laiil distribution was as 

 follows: limt", '>,il'>: shade trees, 800; budded citrus, ')Q; 

 grafted margoes, 3; miscellaneous plant?, 37; making a total 

 off>,i;71. in addition, 82 packets of vegetable seeds were 

 fold. The price of fresh and ripe limes remained unchanged 

 at 8*. and 7j. per barrel. The local price of good (juality 



lime juice s'ands at l.«. tier gallon, with second rate 

 juice at 6d. per gallon. The weather was fine; the rainfall 

 for the month equalled 4'58 inches. The total rainfall for 

 the yeir was SOSO inches. The weather since October 1 had 

 been remarkably dry, the total rainfall during the throo 

 months being 8'!lG inches, a? iigainst a mean precipitation o\'er 

 a period of twenty-four years of 2181 inches for the la't 

 c]Uarlcr of the year. These remarks apply to the leeward 

 coast only. During the period mentioned heavy rains fell 

 in the interior districts, and there was amj)le rain on the 

 windward and notthern coasts. 



:.:ontseri:at. In his items of departmental interest during 

 the month of December 1917, Jlr. W. Bobson, the Curator, 

 stites that the yam plot in the experiment station wis reapeil 

 with fairly satisfactory results. A (juite appreciable .second 

 crop is being reaped from the cotton plot, and the total crop 

 will be good. Lint of tie three raa'n types grown in the 

 island has been prepared for spinningtests, butnot yet shipped. 

 Included in the plant distribution were 2,900 bay plant?, 

 12 lb. sword beans, and 6 fti. cowpeas. In the Botinic Gar- 

 dens several thousand bay seedlings were planted into the 

 nursery beds. Beapings from the bay tree experiment 

 plot were completed, and totilled 6,.51.5 lb. of leaves, as 

 compared with G,242 lb. in 191G The results from the cotton 

 manurial plot show that only 3 per cent, of stained cotton 

 was obtained owing to the absence of any cotton stainer 

 attacks. There i.s evidence that three oi;t of six of the 

 progeny rows of pigeon peas grjwn are hybrid in character. 



The date fixed this season by Proclamation, for the 

 destruction of old cotton plants is January 3], 1918, and 

 planiing is allowed fiom March 1. Exemptions are 

 being sought tor several la'ge areas carrying appreciable 

 .second crops, and these will probably bo granted, as in the 

 case of two areas last .sea-on. The n'lmber of small planters 

 applying at the Treasury for licenses to sell cotton ha.s 

 exceeded 1,000. which is a record for this island. Verv con- 

 siderable areas are also grown by peasants on the "sh,are 

 .system, when no license to sell is required. The growin» of 

 cotton on the share system is likely to increase, and peoj)le 

 are travelling long distances to secure access to cotton land. 

 The building of a sunken silo on one estate is of interest. 

 The examination of samples from the cotton breeding plot was 

 completed. Sam{)Ics of oil from the forty one distillations made 

 from the bay plot in 1917 were forwarded to the Govern- 

 ment Laboratory at Antigua fer examination. The rainfall 

 at Grove Station was 2 7 2 inches, the total for the year 

 being GS 22 inches. The rainfall in December consisted 

 of li^ht showers only, and rain is much needed. 



ANTIGUA. Mr. T. Jackson writes to say ihat plant dis- 

 tribution during the month of December 1917 included 25 

 coco nut plants, _'() miscellaneous, 2 lb. of cotton seed, and 2 

 packets fjf miscellaneous seed. In the Botanic Gardens 

 further attempts are being made to raise new sugar- 

 cane varieties. The new Antigua varieties were removed 

 from the station to Skerrelts. A considerable number of 

 these were destroyed on account of undesirable field 

 characters. 



The area of cotton planted in Antigua is 519 acres. 

 In addition, GO acies of cotton are [)lantod in Barbuda. The 

 dry weather ex|)eiienced during the month has made a con- 

 siderable difference to the general appearance of the cane crop. 

 I'nless good rain is ex[>erienced, the crop, Mr. Jackson 

 think", will be .i.'! per cunt, less than that of last year 

 A combined motor plough and tractor has recertly been impor- 

 ted into the island by .Mcssr.-'. A. .) Comacho & Co. It 

 would seem th.it this implement will prove of valne. 



